Of all the organized crime figures I’ve read about or watched TV documentaries on Irish mob boss James J. “Whitey” Bulger of South Boston may have been the shrewdest, most ruthless and no doubt one of the smartest ones ever.

The unique thing about BuOf all the organized crime figures I’ve read about or watched TV documentaries on Irish mob boss James J. “Whitey” Bulger of South Boston may have been the shrewdest, most ruthless and no doubt one of the smartest ones ever.

The unique thing about Bulger was he was able to use the FBI to protect his criminal empire by becoming a confidential informant. What he gave to the FBI in information was very little but what he received was a far more valuable in return, cart blanch to conduct a criminal empire that included gambling, loan sharking, drug dealing and murder in South Boston without the interference of the FBI or local or state Law Enforcement agencies. Whitey’s gang was responsible for the murders of 19 people during his brutal rein and many of the murders the FBI had direct knowledge about and covered it up.

Not only did he use the FBI to cover his crimes but he used his influential Brother Bill Bulger a prominent Boston attorney and Massachusetts State Legislator to help him get out of prison early in his life and ultimately helped him elude justice once the gig was up and Whitey went on the lamb in 1995.

Not only was Whitey’s criminal career an amazingly long and prosperous one but his 16 year flight from justice once it was finally learned the depth and scope of his crimes, was no less amazing.

It’s very compelling story and the 16 years he was able to hide in plain sight until his capture in 2012 make his case a very fascinating one. Every detail of Whitey’s rise and fall is in the book. As it turns out Whitey’s criminal trial begins this month with jury selection taking place this week as we speak. If you like non-fiction crime books I highly recommend this book....more

Great book, terrible cop. I had no idea just how horrible the incredible level of corruption was in the NYPD and at Tammney Hall during that era. The DA and the Courts were a farce and a disgrace. The good news is it did have an impact on the departmGreat book, terrible cop. I had no idea just how horrible the incredible level of corruption was in the NYPD and at Tammney Hall during that era. The DA and the Courts were a farce and a disgrace. The good news is it did have an impact on the department and reforms were made and in time the whole notorious cast of thugs received justice. Big book and some of the court drama drug on but still a compelling and entertaining read....more

In the mid-1990’s while on an extended vacation to New York City one of the places I made the pilgrimage to was the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The HOF is an amazing place to be sure but the stand out moment and the memoryIn the mid-1990’s while on an extended vacation to New York City one of the places I made the pilgrimage to was the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The HOF is an amazing place to be sure but the stand out moment and the memory that has stuck with to this day was when I weaved my way through the museum to Babe Ruth’s display or should I say room.

I’m a confirmed Non-Yankee Fan but the instant I walked into the room with Ruth’s memorabilia my mouth fell open in awe and goose bumps covered my entire body. The room by its self is very impressive, the single room that is devoted to him is larger than any of the others for any other player in the HOF and deservedly so.

You quickly begin to see why when you begin to look at the amazing statistics he piled up in his 22 year Major League career. Most people know about his home run records but few know the whole story statistically about Ruth.

You take one look at the photos, the uniforms, the video’s, the testimonials, the newspaper clippings and of course his records and you begin to see why he was called the greatest athlete in the history of baseball and some would say of any sport.

That day I acquired a new found respect for him. No other player in the history of baseball will ever reach the level of complete domination that he accomplished. He owned baseball like Henry Ford owned Ford Motor Company except Ruth owned General Motors and all the other car companies combined.

This book gives you all the facts that are known of his life from beginning to end. Once he became the King of Baseball all of the excesses in his personal life made some people hold him in contempt. Most forgive him for those indiscretions though because he was just a happy go lucky likable man child that could accomplish unheard of feats on a baseball diamond.

I came away with several thoughts after finishing the book. One was had Ruth had the good sense to take better care of himself physically he would have set records that would have never ever been broken. The other is I’m an even bigger fan and admirer of him now than I was 20 years ago....more

Great book if you love history. Garfield was a very interesting bootstraps man and would have been an amazing President if he hadn't been murdered by an insane lunatic early in his Presidency.

His medical care after the shooting is what led to his deGreat book if you love history. Garfield was a very interesting bootstraps man and would have been an amazing President if he hadn't been murdered by an insane lunatic early in his Presidency.

His medical care after the shooting is what led to his death. Had the American Doctors in his care used John Lister's method of antiseptic surgery the terrible infection Garfield suffered from may have been avoided and he may have survived.

For 79 agonizing days Garfield hung onto life and until he succumbed to a tragic and painful death.

I didn't know much about Garfield prior to this book. It's a shame his life was cut short because he was one the best of what America could offer in those times. I highly recommend this book, it's a fascinating story....more

90% percent of the time the book is always superior to the movie. Not in this case. The screenplay is a better story than the book will ever be. Hollywood loves a happy ending and in the movie version they give us that. The Hero in his final at bat g90% percent of the time the book is always superior to the movie. Not in this case. The screenplay is a better story than the book will ever be. Hollywood loves a happy ending and in the movie version they give us that. The Hero in his final at bat gives his team a National league Pennant with a lights out home run and all ends well.

In the book Roy Hobbs is not a humble guy, nor a real hero to be admired, in fact the opposite. In real life we see men fail more times than they succeed on and off the field in professional sports today.

Personally I don’t like a story that always ends with rainbows, puppy dogs and happily ever after but in this case since I love the movie so much I wish now I hadn’t picked up the book.

The Hobbs from the movie was a much more likable guy and one you could sympathize with and root for but not in the book.

My image of Roy Hobbs is now forever tainted and he falls into the category of the ordinary instead of the extraordinary. Hobbs story is one we read about almost daily and dismiss as just another dumb jock that only cares about his self interest instead of the team and the game. Skip the book watch the movie....more

Sad and tragic love story to be sure. It’s a good example how some never can forget pass hurts or past loves. The ending of the book did make me shed a tear. The words unspoken can haunt a person for the rest of their lives.

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After I listen to audiobooks I like going to the web afterwards to read about the book and the Author especially if it’s a non-fiction crime book.

Here's a crazy coincidence, I just finished the book, “Never Enough” by Joe McGuinniss this morning andAfter I listen to audiobooks I like going to the web afterwards to read about the book and the Author especially if it’s a non-fiction crime book.

Here's a crazy coincidence, I just finished the book, “Never Enough” by Joe McGuinniss this morning and I decided to do a Google search on Nancy Kissel the Milkshake Murderer. It turns out that TODAY she is in a court room in Hong Kong for her 3rd and final appeal for the murder of her late husband Robert Kissel which happened in 2003.

She most certainly will lose her appeal because she’s as guilty as sin and maybe one of the most sick and twisted individuals I’ve come across in all the murder mysteries I’ve read or watched on TV or at the movies.

If you like true crime it’s a good book and the story is so incredible and fantastic you won’t believe how strange this case really was. It’s just so weird that today of all the days I picked the one to search her out and she’s in court as we speak. She needs to be behind bars for the rest of her life and you can bet the court will rule as such....more

Preview — Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group
— 12131 members
— last activity 9 minutes ago
March 2015/ April 2015 Group Reads The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen and The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey _ _ _ _ _ “It was a dark aMarch 2015/ April 2015 Group Reads The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen and The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey _ _ _ _ _
“It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the sky. Rain spattered a mysterious, hooded stranger who peered over the hedgerow at the darkened, quiet house.”
Do lines like these quicken your heartbeat and pique your interest? Then Welcome to the Mystery, Crime and Thriller Group! This is the place for you.
Join our intrepid moderators, “DCI” Donna, “Sherlock” Hayes, Nancy “Drew”, and “Cat Burglar” Bill as we read and discuss our favourites, recommend new authors and explore the Genre.
This is the meeting place for readers to discuss their favourites and recommend new authors, and the place for budding and established mystery, crime and thriller writers to introduce us to their efforts. You can travel into the past to discover great characters like Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Maigret and others; journey around the world to other countries and meet Aussie Phryne Fisher, Norwegian Harry Hole and so many others; just relax on your couch and experience the wonders of Hercule Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, etc; or hard-boiled, tired gumshoes like Travis McGee and Kinsey Milhone. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wonderfully varied world that is Mystery, Crime and Thrillers.
Join us and have a great time!
Your Moderators: Donna, Hayes, Bill and Nancy....more

The very classy book club
— 35 members
— last activity Mar 24, 2013 03:16PM
You must be very la-de-da in order to join. We talk of the most exquisite things in life 1. Be classy 2. Don't be rude 3. You must like tea 4. ImagineYou must be very la-de-da in order to join. We talk of the most exquisite things in life
1. Be classy
2. Don't be rude
3. You must like tea
4. Imagine I'm talking in a British Accent ...more

The History Book Club
— 10404 members
— last activity 12 minutes ago
"Interested in history - then you have found the right group". The History Book Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Goodreads and the
"Interested in history - then you have found the right group".
The History Book Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Goodreads and these are some of our Focus Areas. We welcome new members from across the globe and we are a large international group.
The second History Book Club Readathon begins at 8AM - April 18th - Sign up now - so you and your books can be counted.
First - join the group. Second, sign up here.
The History Book Club began the spotlighted discussion of the book
Landslide
by Jonathan Darman - led by Bentley. The author is in house posting responses to your questions. The Tower of Silence (Book Three of the Raj Quartet) by Paul Scott is being discussed and led by Jill as part of our India Challenge.
The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944
by Rick Atkinson read is being led by Bentley. And last but not least,
Eisenhower in War and Peace
by Jean Edward Smith - was kicked off on 02/02/15. The buddy read - Flash Boys by Michael Lewis has kicked off.
Challenges
Exotic Book Cavalcade to Iconic India
:
10/1/13 through the end of the Raj Quartet discussions - (a pick 5 challenge of your choice)
The Land of the Rising Sun Book Express (Read Japan) Challenge
- 01/01/15 - 07/31/15
- It is never too late to join any challenge - all are welcome
Upcoming Selections:
On Politics: A History of Political Thought From Herodotus to the Present by Alan Ryan - 03/09/15 - (a year long read)
...more